YALE University formally opened a controversial liberal arts college in tightly governed Singapore, saying there was demand for "critical thinking" in the city-state and other Asian nations.

The Yale-NUS College, a joint project with the National University of Singapore, had been criticised by faculty members of the leading US university due to Singapore's restrictions on protests and on student political activity.

"Singaporeans, and Asians more broadly, have a greater hunger for pedagogy that truly encourages critical thinking and a model of liberal arts and science education adapted for the 21st century," Pericles Lewis, president of the college, said in a speech.

He said that "we're not setting out to change any political discourse, but we're giving students the tools to be active in citizenship, to think about the issues".

The pioneer batch of 157 students from 26 countries – 97 of them Singaporeans – was selected from a pool of over 10,000 applicants and began lessons this month in temporary facilities.

The college's own purpose-built campus with residential facilities will open in 2015 and is designed to have a full capacity of 1,000 students.

The college is the first established by Yale outside its campus in New Haven, Connecticut.

"We believe that the college has the potential to serve as a model for others, particularly in Asia," said NUS president Tan Chorh Chuan.

In a resolution passed in April 2012, the Yale faculty expressed "concern regarding the history of lack of respect for civil and political rights in the state of Singapore".

It called on Yale-NUS to uphold civil liberties and political freedom on campus and in broader society.

Campaign group Human Rights Watch accused Yale of "betraying the spirit of the university as a centre of open debate and protest by giving away the rights of its students" at the new campus.

"Instead of defending these rights, Yale buckled when faced with Singapore's draconian laws on demonstrations and policies restricting student groups."

Singapore's education ministry said at the height of the controversy that student demonstrations on campus would require approval from the Yale-NUS administration. — AFP

ALMOST a third of an art installation that was displayed in public has gone missing after the opening of this year's Singapore Night Festival last weekend.

Artist Karen Mitchell, who will not be replacing the 114 missing pieces as she does not have the time or the budget, made an appeal yesterday on her Facebook page for the pieces to be returned.

"When any one piece is removed, it deprives others of enjoying the experience of interacting with this installation fully," she wrote.

Her installation, called Everyday Aspirations, was set up along the alley between The Substation and the Peranakan Museum. It was made up of 365 pieces of "words of aspirations", such as "laugh" and "smile".

The artwork involves small wooden panels with words cut into them using a laser.

The pieces, stretched across a space 14m long, are used to cast shadows of these words onto a wall.

The different shadows overlap one another, "to represent the shared aspirations of everyone", she said. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

SINGAPORE'S 50th birthday celebrations should resonate with all Singaporeans, said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat as the wraps were taken off the Singapore50 (SG50) committee tasked with planning events for the jubilee year.

The 29-member team unveiled was a diverse one, comprising representatives from a broad range of sectors and included such names as top music producer Iskandar Ismail and film director Royston Tan.

Education Minister Heng Swee Keat is the chairman of SG50 and he said the team wants to let ordinary Singaporeans have a role in planning and organising activities for the celebrations.

"We want every Singaporean to be able to connect through their personal stories with the broader Singapore story, and be a part of the anniversary celebrations," said Heng.

Speaking on the sidelines of a scholarship ceremony at the National University of Singapore, he added: "We should use this special occasion to come together to reflect on our past, to celebrate our past and our journey together as one people, as well as come together to imagine and create a better future together."

Heng said the 2015 jubilee will be celebrated with several key events like the National Day Parade, and, he hopes, many more ground-up initiatives.

His committee meets for the first time today. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

AMMAN/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies geared up for a probable military strike against Syria that could come within days and would be the most aggressive action by Western powers in the Middle Eastern nation's two-and-a-half-year civil war.

Western envoys have told the Syrian opposition to expect a military response soon against President Bashar al-Assad's forces as punishment for a chemical weapons attack last week, according to sources who attended a meeting with the rebel Syrian National Coalition in Istanbul.

Amid a quickening drumbeat of preparations, Australia, a close U.S. ally and incoming chair of the United Nations Security Council, on Wednesday endorsed possible action against Syria even if the security council fails to agree.

U.S. Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Tuesday that American forces in the region were "ready to go" if President Barack Obama gave the order.

Obama - long reluctant to intervene in the Syrian conflict - worked to solidify allied support, including calling the leaders of Britain and Canada, while U.S. intelligence agencies assembled what they are sure to say is final confirmation of the Syrian government's culpability for Wednesday's poison gas attack near Damascus.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said it would "fanciful" to think that anyone other than Assad's forces was behind the large-scale chemical attack, which activists said killed hundreds of people as they slept.

"There is no doubt who is responsible for this heinous use of chemical weapons in Syria: the Syrian regime," Vice President Joe Biden said at a speech in Houston to the American Legion, a military veterans' group.

Top U.S. national security aides gathered to review the situation on Tuesday night in a meeting chaired by Obama's national security adviser Susan Rice, officials said.

Obama has yet to make a final decision on the U.S. response, Carney said, but left little doubt that it would involve military action. He insisted, however, that Washington was not intent on "regime change," signalling that any military strikes would be limited and not meant to topple Assad.

The British military was also drafting plans. Prime Minister David Cameron, anxious, like Obama, not to emulate entanglements in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that beset their predecessors, said any strikes would be "specific" so as not to drag the allies deeper into Syria's civil war.

Cameron, who spoke to Obama on Tuesday for the second time in four days, recalled parliament for a debate on Syria on Thursday.

U.N. chemical weapons investigators put off until Wednesday a second trip to the rebel-held suburbs of Damascus where the chemical attack took place.

While evidence of chemical warfare could bolster an argument for intervention at the United Nations in the face of likely Russian and Chinese opposition, Western leaders and the Arab League have already declared Assad guilty.

Ahmad Jarba, president of the Syrian National Coalition, met envoys from 11 countries at an Istanbul hotel, including the U.S. ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford. The rebel leaders proposed targets for cruise missiles and bombing.

One participant said: "The opposition was told in clear terms that action to deter further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime could come as early as in the next few days."

Planning appears to focus on missile or air strikes. There is little public support in Western countries for troops to invade Syria.

The precise timing of possible military action remained unclear, but it is certain to wait for an official U.S. intelligence report expected to blame Assad's government for the chemical attack. The findings, considered merely a formality at this point, will be released this week, U.S. officials said.

Obama will go ahead with a speech on Wednesday at Washington's Lincoln Memorial to mark the 50th anniversary of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I have a dream' speech.

"The clock is ticking, and the administration is not going to want that to tick too long," said Adam Schiff, a Democrat on the House of Representatives intelligence committee, as White House aides broadened consultations on Capitol Hill.

MOOD IN DAMASCUS

Syria's government, backed by Iran, denies gassing its own people and has vowed to defend itself, but residents of Damascus are growing anxious.

"I've always been a supporter of foreign intervention, but now that it seems like a reality, I've been worrying that my family could be hurt or killed," said a woman named Zaina, who opposes Assad. "I'm afraid of a military strike now."

Russia, Assad's main arms supplier, opposes military action and has suggested that rebel forces may have released the poison gas.

China's state news agency recalled how flawed intelligence was used to justify the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, while the People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party, said the United States and its allies were seeking to use the issue to pursue regime change in Syria illegally.

Firm opposition from permanent members of the Security Council all but rules out a U.N. mandate of the kind that gave legal backing to NATO air strikes that helped Libyan rebels unseat Muammar Gaddafi two years ago.

"Our preference, everyone's preference, would be for action, a response, under United Nations auspices," Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr, whose country takes over the rotating chair of the Security Council on Sunday, told reporters.

"But if that's not possible, the sheer horror of a government using chemical weapons against its people, using chemical weapons in any circumstances, mandates a response."

Russia and China accuse Western powers of using human rights complaints, such as in Libya, to meddle in sovereign states' affairs.

Although Obama has long said Assad should step down, he is unwilling to commit to making that happen by force. White House spokesman Carney said it was "profoundly in the interests of the United States" to respond to the chemical weapons attack.

In Britain, Cameron told reporters: "This is not about getting involved in a Middle Eastern war or changing our stance in Syria or going further into that conflict. It's about chemical weapons. Their use is wrong and the world shouldn't stand idly by."

In France, which played a major role in Libya, President Francois Hollande said he was "ready to punish" Assad for using the chemical weapons, citing a 2005 U.N. provision for international action to protect civilians from their own governments.

Similar arguments were used by NATO to bomb Serbia, a Russian ally, in 1999 after the killing of civilians in Kosovo.

In an indication of support from Arab states that may help Western powers argue the case for an attack against likely U.N. vetoes from Moscow and Beijing, the Arab League issued a statement blaming Assad's government for the chemical attack.

Fears of another international conflict in the Middle East affected financial markets. Oil prices hit a six-month high and stocks fell around the world, notably in Turkey, as well as in emerging economies that would suffer from a chill in trade.

TOUGH CHOICES

Obama, Cameron and Hollande face questions at home about how a military intervention would end and whether it risks bolstering Assad if he rides out the assault or empowering anti-Western Islamist rebels if the Syrian leader is overthrown.

Turmoil in Egypt, where the 2011 uprising inspired Syrians to rebel, has underlined the unpredictability of revolutions. The presence of Islamist militants, including allies of al Qaeda in the Syrian rebel ranks, has given Western leaders pause. They have held back so far from helping Assad's opponents to victory.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem said U.S. strikes would help al Qaeda and called Western leaders "delusional" if they hoped to help the rebels reach a balance of power in Syria.

"We have means of defending ourselves, and we will surprise them with these if necessary," he said. "We will defend ourselves. We will not hesitate to use any means available."

Assad's forces made little or no response to three attacks by Israeli aircraft this year that Israeli officials said disrupted arms flowing from Iran to Lebanon's Hezbollah.

The presence of U.N. experts in Damascus may be a factor holding back international military action. The experts came under fire in government-held territory on Monday before reaching rebel lines.

Opposition activists have said at least 500 people, and possibly twice that many, were killed by rockets carrying the nerve gas sarin or something similar. If true, it would be the worst chemical weapons attack since Saddam Hussein gassed thousands of Iraqi Kurds in 1988.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has accused two risk consultants, a British man and his American wife, of illegally buying and selling private information, state media reported on Tuesday, in what could be a widening crackdown on obtaining data for commercial purposes.

Peter Humphrey and Yu Yingzeng were detained in Shanghai on July 10. They have since been formally arrested, which typically means police believe they have enough evidence for a case to be brought to trial.

Police in Shanghai had arrested 126 people this month alone in a crackdown against the illegal collection of personal information, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement on the case involving Humphrey and Yu.

It did not give details on the nationalities or professions of those arrested, or say precisely what they had done.

But the detention of Humphrey and Yu has already had a chilling effect on other risk consultants working in China, with some corporate investigators saying they had become more cautious about which projects to accept, avoiding any the government might see as sensitive.

Multinationals, banks and investors rely on corporate investigators for information about potential partners and investments in China, where a lack of transparency is a hurdle to doing business.

A police investigator in Shanghai, Lu Wei, said on state-run CCTV the couple "wantonly" obtained a lot of information on home registrations, international travel and property records.

They sold the information to lawyers, multinationals and financial institutions, CCTV said.

Humphrey said in a statement broadcast on CCTV that he had occasionally used illegal methods.

"I sometimes used illegal means to obtain personal information," Humphrey said in Mandarin to a camera as he sat handcuffed wearing an orange vest.

"I very much regret this and apologise to the Chinese government," said Humphrey, who worked as a journalist for Reuters in the 1980s and 90s.

BRITON'S FIRM DID WORK FOR GLAXOSMITHKLINE - SOURCES

ChinaWhys, the investigative risk consultancy Humphrey and Yu founded, worked for many firms including British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), sources familiar with the matter have said.

Chinese police have been investigating bribery accusations against GSK since July, although Chinese media reports on Humphrey and Yu made no mention of the firm.

GSK has declined to comment on the work ChinaWhys did for the company except to say that Humphrey is not, nor has he ever been, an employee.

In a statement, Britain's foreign office expressed concern at Humphrey's appearance on state TV.

"We were concerned to see that Peter Humphrey was interviewed about the details of a case which is currently under investigation and has yet to come to trial," the foreign office said, adding it was continuing to provide consular assistance to Humphrey and his family.

The American embassy could not immediately be reached for comment.

Jason Cai, a Chinese investigator who worked with Humphrey and Yu, was arrested around the same time, said a source with direct knowledge of the matter. Cai was not mentioned in the state media reports, and his arrest has not been announced.

The ChinaWhys website says Humphrey has worked as a risk management specialist and corporate detective for 14 years.

Cai Hua, a Chinese criminal lawyer, said it was difficult to say how heavy the penalty would be if the couple is convicted.

"For the most part, it rests on the extent of the damage the crime has done and the amount of information obtained," said Cai, who is not related to Jason Cai.

The couple "confessed to the crime without concealing anything," the official Xinhua news agency said. " actions seriously violated the personal privacy of Chinese citizens."

"Whether it's a Chinese person or foreigner engaging in illegal activities, public security organs will firmly crack down without holding back," the news agency said.

(Additional reporting by Alexandra Harney and the newsroom in Shanghai and Marie-Louise Gumuchian in London; Editing by Robert Birsel and Dean Yates)

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's nuclear regulator said on Wednesday it has officially raised the severity rating of the latest radioactive water leak at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant to Level 3 on an international scale for radiological releases.

The upgrade by Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) raises the rating of what was Japan's first warning on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) since the three reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima plant in March 2011, which were triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami. Those meltdowns were classified as Level 7, the highest INES rating.

The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co, said last week that 300 tonnes of highly radioactive water leaked from a storage tank at the facility. The utility still does not know how long the water may have been leaking and said it was possible the contaminated water may have reached the Pacific Ocean.

The NRA had said last week that it may upgrade the severity of the crisis from a Level 1 "anomaly" to a Level 3 "serious incident" on the INES scale, after consultations with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Rumour has it that the youngest Kardashian sister has split from her husband of three years.

There's big trouble in paradise for Khloe Kardashian, 29. Reports that her marriage to basketball player Lamar Odom is on the rocks have been all over the Internet for months now. However, this time around, the issue has less to do with Odom's infidelity but more about his substance abuse.

Earlier this week, celebrity news websites like TMZ reported that Kardashian has finally given Odom the boot, although neither has contacted divorce lawyers. The drastic move was apparently the result of Odom's refusal to kick his drug habit, after Kardashian and her family staged an intervention last week.

Meanwhile, other websites like Daily Mail reported that Kardashian was spotted wearing her wedding ring, and that she is determined to get help for Odom, 33, who is said to be addicted to crack cocaine.

Kardashian has been furiously defending her husband and refuting allegations on Twitter, saying, "Really hard to sit here and listen to people talk s*** about my family! F*** you and shame on you! I'm too protective for this s***!"

TMZ reported that a source claims that Kardashian is more concerned about saving her husband than ending their marriage. The TV celebrity has been putting up a brave front ever since reports of Odom's extra-marital affairs surfaced in the past few months (first with a woman named Jennifer Richardson and then more recently, with a lawyer named Polina Polonsky). Will their marriage survive another blow?

Red FM, Capital FM, Suria FM and 988 will embark on its first integrated charity event on Aug 31 called A Big Charity Day (ABC Day) at The Square in Publika, Kuala Lumpur. This event is to raise funds for two homes – Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Al-Nasuha and Angels Children's home. – which are in dire need of assistance.

Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Al-Nasuha houses toddlers (as young as six months old) to teens while Angels Children's Home has children between four to 16 years of age. Both these homes provide shelter and guidance to those who have either been orphaned or rescued from broken homes. Without public assistance, these homes struggle to provide for the kids.

Kak Umi who runs Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Al-Nasuha said: "We want to get better housing for the kids but we can't afford it. One of the major challenges we currently face is to pay the rent as our expenses per month total up to RM20,000."

The announcers from all four stations will be at Publika in full force. Red FM and Capital FM announcers are set to perform an improv comedy show, much like Whose Line Is It Anyway.

JJ and Lil Kev from The Red Breakfast WTF will perform live, for the first time, Potong Line their parody to the chart topper Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke. Suria FM announcers will perform a dikir barat while 988 announcers will stage a song-and-dance show.

Music artistes like Nadhira, Ferhad, Shawn Lee, K Town Clan, Dennis Lau with Koujee and many others will entertain the crowd as well.

For those who love to shop, visit the Thrift Store which features designer items. And when you are hungry, there are delicious baked treats on sale. To buy all these items, purchase voucher books (RM20 or RM50) on the day of the event.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's blue chips were battered by rising foreign selling, pushing the FBM KLCI down more than 40 points early Wednesday but the heavy selling could be overdone with local institutions coming in to pick up battered counters.

At 9.21am, the KLCI was down 40.65 points to 1,660.59. Turnover was 327.61 million shares valued at RM217.10mil. Losers hammered gainers 614 to 15.

Reuters reported Japan's Nikkei share average tumbled 2.1% to a two-month low 13,264.50 in mid-morning trade, breaching its immediate support line of 13,270.72, a 23.6 percent retracement of the slide from its May high to its low in June.

It reported that geopolitical uncertainty over a possible US-led military strike against the Syrian government, while persistent concerns about a slide in emerging markets added to the dour mood.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's blue chips extended their losses early Wednesday, with selling pressure picking up on banks and Tenaga Nasional, while key Asian markets also fell.

At 9am, the FBM KLCI fell 14.01 points to 1,687.23. Turnover was 26.50 million shares valued at RM11.93mil. There were 188 losers to only eight gainers.

Reuters reported jitters over a possible U.S.-led military strike against the Syrian government knocked Asian equities on Wednesday, with Japan's Nikkei hitting a two-month low, and pushed oil prices and safe-haven gold to multi-month highs.

An acute 'risk-off' mode also boosted the appeal of the Japanese yen, which held at a one-week high against the dollar and euro after having posted its biggest rally in more than two months. Against a basket of major currencies, the dollar was steady at a one-week low.

At Bursa Malaysia, BAT fell the most, down RM1 to RM60.60 with 200 shares done while Carlsberg lost 14 sen to RM13.68. Power giant Tenaga fell 13 sen to RM8.50.

Public Bank fell 14 sen to RM16.74, CIMB and Maybank 10 sen each to RM7.28 and RM9.76.

Cement maker Lafarge lost 31 sen to RM8.80 and UEM Sunrise was down 10 sen to RM2.31.

NEW YORK: The website of The New York Times experienced another outage on Tuesday afternoon, likely caused by hackers, the company said.

New York Times Co spokeswoman Eileen Murphy tweeted on Tuesday that the "issue is most likely the result of a malicious external attack," based on an initial assessment.

This is the second time the Times has experienced problems with its website in two weeks. On August 14, the site was down for several hours, an outage likely related to a scheduled maintenance update that occurred within seconds of the website's going down.

Several media organization have been attacked by hackers in recent months. Also in August, hackers promoting the Syrian Electronic Army simultaneously targeted websites belonging to CNN, Time and the Washington Post by breaching a third party service used by those sites.

Dow Jones Chief Executive Lex Fenwick tweeted on Tuesday that The Wall St Journal's website is "free to all for a few hours," a poke at the Journal's crosstown rival.
- Reuters

PUTRAJAYA: MIC is not willing to be renamed if it is to merge with other Indian-based parties, says Deputy MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said although the party was willing to consider a merger with these parties, calling MIC by a different name was not an option.

"One of the challenges is that some of the other parties don't want to lose their identities and they also have their own demands.

"But if there is openness, we are quite prepared (to consider)," he said after launching the Malaysia Health System in Transition (HiT) Country Report yesterday.

On some of the parties asking for a new party to be set up and not combined with MIC, Dr Subramaniam said that MIC would not "close shop".

"The original idea was to have the parties merge with MIC, but some of them wanted to maintain their identities," he said.

Moreover, he said that some of them wanted to maintain their positions and posts, but this would depend on MIC's ability to accommodate the request, he said.

On whether MIC was prepared for structural changes, he said this would have to be discussed "but for us to call it a different name, that is not possible".

On Sunday, Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor urged all Indian-based political parties under the coalition to merge into one entity in the best interests of the Malaysian Indian community.

He said it was pointless for the parties to compete with each other when they could be better off working together.

Tengku Adnan urged MIC, Makkal Sakti, Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP), Indian Progressive Front (IPF) and the PPP to merge so that they could become a stronger entity.

PUTRAJAYA: Police here recorded a statement from the son of slain Customs Deputy director-general II Datuk Shaharuddin Ibrahim yesterday and said they would investigate the matter.

Putrajaya OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Razak Majid said the statement was consistent with his comments published in the media concerning his father's murder.

Mohd Akhtar was reported to have said that his father was gunned down after investigating a car-smuggling syndicate in Langkawi.

He had also alleged that his father had warned his bosses of corrupt officials, adding that Shaharuddin received a transfer letter soon after making the accusation.

"We are aware of recent statements made by him (Mohd Akhtar) in the media," ACP Abdul Razak said yesterday.

"He has cooperated fully and confirmed his statements in the media," he said.

"The case is still under investigation but we are pursuing all leads," he said.

Peninsular Malaysia Customs Officers Union president Ibrahim Ahmad had also confirmed that Shaharuddin was slated to be transferred a month prior to his murder.

Described as "Mr Clean", the 58-year-old Negri Sembilan-born Shaharuddin, who headed the Customs and Internal Tax Unit division, was a year away from retirement when he was shot dead in his official vehicle at a Putrajaya junction on April 26.

Double double, toil and trouble. An absurdist version of Macbeth turns tragedy to comedy.

THERE is bizarre, there is very bizarre, and then there is Eugene Ionesco's Macbett.

What can you say about an absurdist remix of a popular Shakespeare tragedy that features a main character claiming to be born of a gazelle, seductive Yoko Ono-esque witches, and a literal walking, singing forest?

Ionesco's play was staged at the recently opened Actor's Studio at KuAsh Theatre in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, earlier this month. Much like its lead character Macbett, the show proved to be bold, ambitious and captivating, if a little flawed.

Macbett centres on two generals, Macbett and Banco, who put down a rebellion in the service of their lord, Archduke Duncan, a lascivious and cruel tyrant. After being encouraged by the seductive Lady Duncan, Macbett joins forces with Banco to assassinate Duncan and crown himself king. However, he is haunted by the ghosts of his victims, and discovers that his new wife is not all that she seems to be.

Ionesco is one of the foremost playwrights of the Theatre of the Absurd, which focuses on human beings trapped in an incomprehensible world. Some of the hallmarks of this school of theatre are pointless-sounding, repetitive dialogue and surrealistic imagery.

In Macbett, these devices are used effectively to emphasise the illogical nature of war and revolutions: characters are trapped in an endless cycle of bloodshed, treachery and rebellion. Banco and Macbett take down the rebels Glamiss and Candor, only to later similarly rebel, and have to be taken down by even more blood-thirsty villains.

The most absurd characters in this play, however, are the nameless civilians ruled by Archduke Duncan and his successors; the old newspaper men, rapping chefs and lemonade sellers that pop up throughout the story. Despite everything they undergo, they constantly welcome each new ruler with cheers and open arms: a strange quirk of human behaviour that would be hilarious if it wasn't so depressingly true.

Despite Macbett's surrealistic nature, however, its story proved remarkable easy to follow, touching on universal themes such as desire, ambition and revenge. Its absurdist elements were inserted well throughout and were never too bizarre to the point of alienating the audience.

Macbett seemed tricky to stage, with scenes occurring in a multitude of places, including a beach, a moving elevator and a bathroom. Director Wong, though, did a good job bringing these places to life, while maintaining a surreal nature to the play's setting.

Lines from the original Macbeth were occasionally employed, often in new contexts, which was a very inspired touch. While one did not have to be familiar with Shakespeare's play to enjoy Macbett, knowledge of it certainly increased one's enjoyment of the production.

Acting was slightly disappointing, however. While Johanan was charismatic as the conflicted Banco, and Cheong had her moments as the mysterious Lady Duncan, most of the other performances ranged from decent to wooden.

Macbett's comedy was done well, though, with laughs aplenty at much of the show's surreal elements. A scene where Macbett encounters the witches (a choreographed piece featuring Latin chanting) was mesmerising to watch, while a scene of the execution of Glamiss (represented by balloons popped by hedge clippers) was hilarious. Characters also tended to break out into song and rap from time to time, which was fun to watch, and a scene with Archduke Duncan making a speech that subtly belittled his subjects was very well-received.

One of the show's most inspired moments came at the climax, which featured a cameo by actor Abdul Qahar Aqilah (not mentioned in any of the show's promotional material at all!) as the savage Macol. This surprise appearance was brilliantly executed, and was perfectly in line with the random nature of a farce.

The play also proved to be quite lengthy, clocking in at over two hours. Thankfully, capable directing and a lively script ensured the audience was kept mostly enraptured, despite a few scenes dragging a little.

All in all, the show proved to be quite entertaining despite its acting flaws. Absurdist plays often have a bad rap, popularly dismissed as confusing, pretentious or overly abstract. Macbett proves, however, that absurdism can be gripping and capable of enhancing a story if utilised properly.

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YANGON: Muslims displaced by Myanmar's latest eruption of religious violence picked through the charred remains of their shattered homes as police patrolled the streets, amid concern over spreading unrest.

Hundreds of people were made homeless after about 1,000 anti-Muslim rioters rampaged through villages in Kanbalu, in the central region of Sagaing, on Saturday evening, setting fire to Muslim property and attacking rescue vehicles with catapults.

"It is going to be very difficult to rebuild our houses again. Some people are taking refuge in nearby homes or with relatives," said 40-year-old Muslim Aung San, who was displaced in the unrest.

Myint Naing, a local MP for the opposition National League for Democracy party, said that 160 men and 158 women who had lost their homes had taken shelter in a school.

"They had been living peacefully for many years and this is the first time they saw violence," he said, adding that the situation was now calm.

Attacks against Muslims – who make up at least 4% of the population – have exposed deep rifts in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, overshadowing widely praised political reforms since military rule ended in 2011.

A local photographer in Kanbalu said that clashes had ended in the early hours of Sunday, but fires sparked by the riots burned until Sunday evening.

Some 250 police were deployed in the area as well as military personnel, he said.

State newspaper the New Light of Myanmar said the situation was "normal" by yesterday morning and authorities were making arrangements to open camps for those who lost their homes. — AFP

CITY Harvest Church leaders were involved in major decisions such as budgets and staff employment at Xtron Productions, a music production company accused of helping the church to misuse church funds, the state sought to show.

When questioned on the witness stand, Xtron director Choong Kar Weng also admitted that the company did not seek to profit from its City Harvest business although this made up the majority of its income.

Xtron is one of two companies alleged to have helped the megachurch to funnel church funds to bankroll the music career of pastor-singer Ho Yeow Sun, who is also wife of the church's founder Kong Hee.

The state showed through emails and meeting minutes prepared by Xtron employees, that City Harvest employees were consulted on the company's matters even though they were not on its payroll.

In some cases their approval was also sought. These church employees included Tan Ye Peng, one of the six accused.

Claiming that he was seeing many of these minutes and emails for the first time, Choong also said that the day-to-day operations were handled by Suraj, a church employee whom he called a "good friend".

Asked whether this represented a conflict of interest for the company, Choong said: "I trust Suraj and believe he would not have done anything harmful and detrimental to Xtron."

Kong and the five other church leaders were charged last year with conspiring to cheat the megachurch of millions of dollars.

They allegedly misused S$24mil (RM60mil) of church funds to bankroll Ho's singing ambitions, and purportedly took another S$26mil (RM65mil) to cover up the first amount. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

YANGON: Muslims displaced by Myanmar's latest eruption of religious violence picked through the charred remains of their shattered homes as police patrolled the streets, amid concern over spreading unrest.

Hundreds of people were made homeless after about 1,000 anti-Muslim rioters rampaged through villages in Kanbalu, in the central region of Sagaing, on Saturday evening, setting fire to Muslim property and attacking rescue vehicles with catapults.

"It is going to be very difficult to rebuild our houses again. Some people are taking refuge in nearby homes or with relatives," said 40-year-old Muslim Aung San, who was displaced in the unrest.

Myint Naing, a local MP for the opposition National League for Democracy party, said that 160 men and 158 women who had lost their homes had taken shelter in a school.

"They had been living peacefully for many years and this is the first time they saw violence," he said, adding that the situation was now calm.

Attacks against Muslims – who make up at least 4% of the population – have exposed deep rifts in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, overshadowing widely praised political reforms since military rule ended in 2011.

A local photographer in Kanbalu said that clashes had ended in the early hours of Sunday, but fires sparked by the riots burned until Sunday evening.

Some 250 police were deployed in the area as well as military personnel, he said.

State newspaper the New Light of Myanmar said the situation was "normal" by yesterday morning and authorities were making arrangements to open camps for those who lost their homes. — AFP

CITY Harvest Church leaders were involved in major decisions such as budgets and staff employment at Xtron Productions, a music production company accused of helping the church to misuse church funds, the state sought to show.

When questioned on the witness stand, Xtron director Choong Kar Weng also admitted that the company did not seek to profit from its City Harvest business although this made up the majority of its income.

Xtron is one of two companies alleged to have helped the megachurch to funnel church funds to bankroll the music career of pastor-singer Ho Yeow Sun, who is also wife of the church's founder Kong Hee.

The state showed through emails and meeting minutes prepared by Xtron employees, that City Harvest employees were consulted on the company's matters even though they were not on its payroll.

In some cases their approval was also sought. These church employees included Tan Ye Peng, one of the six accused.

Claiming that he was seeing many of these minutes and emails for the first time, Choong also said that the day-to-day operations were handled by Suraj, a church employee whom he called a "good friend".

Asked whether this represented a conflict of interest for the company, Choong said: "I trust Suraj and believe he would not have done anything harmful and detrimental to Xtron."

Kong and the five other church leaders were charged last year with conspiring to cheat the megachurch of millions of dollars.

They allegedly misused S$24mil (RM60mil) of church funds to bankroll Ho's singing ambitions, and purportedly took another S$26mil (RM65mil) to cover up the first amount. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

WHILE generally optimistic about the future, the majority of Singaporeans want a slower-paced life, a less competitive education system and fewer foreigners – and they are willing to trade off economic growth for that.

This was the picture that emerged from a survey of 4,000 citizens conducted in January as part of the Our Singapore Conversation (OSC) exercise.

The full findings, released last week, had 65% of respondents saying that they were optimistic about the future five years ahead, and 78% saying that the Government was managing Singapore well.

When asked to pick among competing national priorities, respondents showed more consensus than observers expected. That consensus pointed to a desire for an easing of Singapore's pace of growth and development.

Asked to choose between career advancement and a comfortable pace of life, 59% chose the latter. This number swelled to 62% among those married with children.

NUS sociologist and former Nominated MP Paulin Straughan said Singaporeans want a "more balanced approach from the Govern­ment to ensure that in terms of quality of life, we are not always obsessing about saving for the future. They want everyday life to be rewarding too".

But she noted that where they stood on these compromises were a reaction to what they felt was already "in place" now.

"Because all the hard factors like infrastructure, a high employment rate and a competitive education system are already in place, they are yearning for more," she said.

"People can ask for more work-life balance only if you have work." — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

From gritty rock ballads to ethnic pop tunes, we remember 56 Malaysian songs that have touched our hearts and stood the test of time.

MUSIC brings people together. Great music brings a whole nation together.

In conjunction with the upcoming 56th Merdeka, Star2 looks back at 56 Malaysian songs that have left an indelible mark on all of us.

Whether it's gritty rock ballads, inspirational anthems or ethnic pop tunes, these are songs that have united Malaysians from all walks oflife.These are songs that cannot be washed away by the sands of time.

From first impressions to interesting back stories, Star2 speaks to composers, lyricists and singers to find out what it feels like to play a part in creating some of the greatest Malaysian songs. We've also come up with a two-part playlist for you, containing all the 56 tracks. Enjoy!

1. Balik Kampung by Sudirman

This endearing tune by the late Datuk Sudirman Arshad is sure to evoke nostalgic feelings among its listeners. Sudirman's former manager Daniel Kannan says the singer was inspired to write something that most people could relate to at that time.

"He (Sudirman) noticed that a lot of people are coming (to KL) from kampung to work and eventually settle down in the city. He wanted to sing about the excitement, anticipation people felt about balik kampung,"says Daniel. The tune written and composed by Sudirman was recorded in 1984 for the album Lagu Dari Sebuah Bilik.
When Daniel first heard the tune, he became aware of its timeless accord.

"I remember telling Sudirman that they would play this song every year for Hari Raya and other festive occasions. Today, even after he's long gone (Sudirman passed away in February 1992), you simply can't miss this song."

2. Standing In The Eyes Of The World by Ella

"My heart was pounding furiously, I even felt like crying," Ella recalls the moment she sang Standing In The Eyes Of The World during the 1998 Commonwealth Games at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium. The rock singer says she will never forget that performance, especially when the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad praised her as she stepped off the stage.

Written in both English and Bahasa Malaysia by David Gates and Wah Idris respectively, Ella believes the Commonwealth Games theme song has touched Malaysians because we all face adversities in life: "No matter who you are – a leader of a country, an athlete, a student, a working adult, a physically-challenged individual – it gives us hope and confidence to succeed in whatever we do.

"When we fall, we rise up again – that's what this song is about."

3. Sinaran by Sheila Majid

Did you know that Datuk Sheila Majid's most popular tune was originally composed as an entry for a Proton Saga theme song competition in the 1980s?

Adnan's song didn't win the competition but not long after, he submitted the composition to an international song festival. Owing to a tight deadline, Adnan used the same melody and roped in songwriter Johan Nawawi to rewrite the song – giving birth to Sinaran.

Adnan admits the song "doesn't have the best lyrics in the world" as it was a rushed effort but the melody is strong. Regardless, balladeer Misha Omar says Sinaran kick-started her admiration for Sheila Majid and inspired her to sing.

"There is always that one singer that inspires you. She's beautiful, humble and she carries herself well. I told myself, 'One day, I want to be like her'," Misha says.

Sheila Majid's Emosi, the album containing the hit single Sinaran, wasn't just a big success in Malaysia but in Indonesia as well, after earning a BASF award for best-selling Indonesian album in the R&B category in 1987.

4. Hijau by Zainal Abidin

"I'm a kampung boy from Johor Baru. A river ran through my backyard and we used to grow fruit trees there. When I moved to Kuala Lumpur, we didn't have all these," says former Headwind vocalist Zainal Abidin. The lack of greenery in the city inspired him to approach songwriter and composer Mukhlis Nor who then penned Hijau.

Zainal, who considers the song his proudest work yet, also shares the reason behind the refrain with the distinct Kelantanese dialect: "We also tried adapting it to Cantonese, Mandarin, Tamil and Terengganu dialects actually. We wanted to target people from rural areas who do not understand the issues plaguing the environment."

The message definitely came across. "That song was so original and the message of caring for the environment speaks to all Malaysians, rich or poor," singer Aizat Amdan says. YouTube sensation Najwa Latif who practices recycling chimes in: "I first heard the song when I was 10. It taught me the importance of preserving our flora and fauna."

5. Mentera Semerah Padi by M. Nasir

"This song is about a warrior who is trying to motivate himself by strengthening his spirituality before he goes to war," Datuk M. Nasir explains the intrinsic meaning behind Mentera Semerah Padi.

Known for composing hits like Search's Fantasia Bulan Madu and Wings' Sejati, M. Nasir admits the song was a risk as it was unlike anything he had done. "There were so many pop songs and love songs at that time. I felt the need to introduce a patriotic song, but not like a marching song. It has elements of the past but with a modern twist," he explains.

The veteran singer-songwriter believes this 1995 AIM Best Song is still remembered today because of its uplifting message and distinct traditional sounds, especially the use of the flute.

Rocker Ella, who couldn't resist singing a line from the chorus when contacted, says: "I love this song because it reminds us that Malaysia is where we belong and we should be proud of it."

6. Kau Ilhamku by Manbai

When songwriter Asmin Mudin first approached Manbai with Kau Ilhamku, the ex-Gersang vocalist knew his career was up for a breakthrough. True enough, this evergreen number has taken him places, from entertaining the crowd at Datuk Lee Chong Wei's wedding to a special invitation to perform before the Raja Permaisuri Agong.

Directly translated as "you're my inspiration", Kau Ilhamku is a credit to God as Manbai's inspiration, he says. "Without God, I am nothing."

"Whatever we plan to achieve in life, whether we succeed or fail, it's important to give thanks to Him." Manbai adds the song is also about showing respect and appreciation to those in our lives who have inspired us such as our parents and teachers.

7. Cindai by Siti Nurhaliza

Since its release in 1997, the rumour mill has been buzzing that supernatural sightings occur whenever Cindai is sung at night. Cindai is an expensive, intricate fabric but the word is also believed to mean pontianak (banshee).

Composer Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Zain (or Pak Ngah Suhaimi) says there are no double entendres to the song: "That meaning (pontianak) has nothing to do with the song. Cindai is a beautiful, exquisite cloth that also serves as a useful weapon. When one is struck by a parang, the cloth is so durable it can be used as a shield. It's a metaphor for a woman who can be lovely and graceful but strong and powerful at the same time."

Singer Datuk Siti Nurhaliza also confirms there have been no mysterious happenings whenever she performs the song. However, the pop darling did feel anxious about recording it at first. "I have recorded two pop albums before this. I was worried that my traditional singing style will not be as strong and warmly accepted by fans," says Siti.

Datuk Siti Nurhaliza performing Cindai at the Juara Lagu awards in 1998, where the song was the night's biggest winner.

8. Mulanya Di Sini by Freedom

Who would have thought that a song composed on an airplane would later become a jingle for an airline? The melody to Mulanya Di Sini came to composer Royston Sta Maria (of Roy & Fran) when he flew from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney, Australia. "He was on a flight where he spotted a beautiful air stewardess and immediately fell in love with her," says Freedom lead vocalist Shuib Shaari who adds that the name of the air stewardess was Carol.

The experience led Royston to create the chirpy tune. Shuib believes the song was such a hit because there weren't many pop songs when it was released in 1987. "The rock scene was so big at the time, it was controlling everything. In fact, pop was dying. But we knew there was something different about this song from the other pop numbers," he says.

Malaysia Airlines later incorporated the song as part of its promotional videos. And what became of Carol? Before Royston got off the flight, he tried to pursue her but the flight attendant revealed she was already attached.

Pop group Freedom was very popular in the 1980s.

9. Belaian Jiwa by Carefree/Innuendo

This classic love ballad was originally written in English and titled Heart Of My Soul. Simon Justin Leo of popular 1970s group Carefree says he wrote and composed the song based on his personal experience.

"When we were recording our second album, the label realised there was no original composition by band members. So I played this song, and everyone loved it," he says, adding the band's saxophonist Nana Pawan Chik translated the song into Bahasa Malaysia.

He believes the song was a hit because Carefree was one of very few local groups who sang harmonies then, which gives listeners a nostalgic feeling. Belaian Jiwa became popular again in the 1990s when R&B group Innuendo covered the song.

"It was fantastic! They did a great job. It suited the new generation, it sounded more contemporary and R&B," he says.

10. Awallah Dondang by Noraniza Idris

It's a mystery to some why the melody of Awallah Dondang was credited to an unknown composer, Anak Sarawak. Ala Dondang, the album containing the Noraniza Idris smash hit, was produced by Pak Ngah Suhaimi. "After recording the album, we felt it still needed a killer song. I suggested Awallah Dondang and everyone loved it," he says. "The melody of the song is actually based on a popular traditional zapin tune from Sarawak."

Hairul Anuar Harun was enlisted to write the lyrics to the melody. Pak Ngah says he tried to find its composer so due credit could be given but to no avail. As such, we credited the melody of the song as Anak Sarawak (child of Sarawak). "Whatever royalty we get, we donate them to the orphanage because we know it's not our song," he reveals.

Pak Ngah opines Awallah Dondang became a hit because it was the first time a traditional Malaysian tune was successfully made contemporary. "Back then, the music industry had become stagnant, there was nothing interesting. So when this song came out, it was something new and uniquely Malaysian. Something that could represent our country," he shares.

11. Apa Dah Jadi by SM Salim

Who can forget Tan Sri SM Salim's hilarious but honest Apa Dah Jadi? The song talks about a single man who is advancing in age and unable to find love. Pak Ngah Suhaimi who has worked with the veteran singer on a few occasions comments: "The beauty of this song lies in its direct and straightforward lyrics. There are no metaphors, no flowery words. The point of Apa Dah Jadi is just for the singer to bercerita (tell a story)."

However, Pak Ngah warns that the song isn't as simple to sing as it seems. "SM Salim is using an old school technique that not many can actually pull off. He has a way to make it sound bersahaja (effortless) that is difficult to master," he explains.

Singer Aizat feels inspired by SM Salim's individuality. "Apa Dah Jadi is something very different and original. It's incredible to see him make the song his own. For the new generation of artistes, this inspires us to carve our own legacy," he says.

12. Getaran Jiwa by P. Ramlee

The evergreen song made its first appearance in the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee's film Antara Dua Darjat. Released in 1960, the much-loved smooth jazzy number has been covered by numerous musicians including American singer-songwriter Lobo. In 1995, he released Whispers In The Wind, an English song that samples the melody of Getaran Jiwa.

Most recently, Mandopop star Wang Leehom performed this song at his concert in Kuala Lumpur with Najwa Latif.
Najwa says the song's enduring quality lies in "its faultless lyrics and melody". Alleycats vocalist Datuk David Arumugam says "no one could replicate the way P. Ramlee carries the tune".

"It's simply effortless," says David.

13.Apo Nak Dikato by Blues Gang

Blues Gang frontman Ito Mohd says this song was written in 1982 during the band's three-month stint touring Australia.
Some of his band member's first reaction to the song was "lagu apa ni? (what kind of song is this?)". Apo Nak Dikato was sung entirely in Ito's Negri Sembilan dialect. The lyrics of the song is Ito's observation of the social and environmental changes in his hometown.

"The song has the line 'air laut bertambah masin' and it's about how I feel about the beaches in Port Dickson, not looking as gorgeous as they used to back in the 1960s."
He expresses genuine surprise when told the song has found itself a place in Star2's memorable Malaysian song list.

"I honestly thought people have forgotten about the song!"

14. Sampaikan Salam by Alleycats

Vocalist Datuk David Arumugam says his favourite moment performing this song was during the first Anugerah Juara Lagu in 1986.
"I remember it was the first (Anugerah) Juara Lagu where we won an award for Best Performance. After that we came in third for Best Song," says the affable frontman.

"I think this song's appeal lies in its universal message. It's about sending a greeting and it can be for anyone. I never get sick of performing this song for our fans. I believe it has become sort of like their anthem. No Alleycats show would be complete without this song."

15.60s TV by OAG

Fikri Fadzil, founder of local music platform The Wknd, hails lead singer Radhi as one of this generation's best pop songwriters.

"His songs are always full of insanely catchy hooks and melodies. 60s TV, specifically, has all those elements and more."
He also credits the charismatic performer with paving the way for a new generation of singer-songwriters to make their mark in the local music scene.

"The song came out at the right time (mid 1990s) and was possibly one of the songs that led the way for more Malaysian-English songs to hit the airwaves."

As a testament to the song's longevity, Fikri remembers the crowd relentlessly screaming for OAG to play the song at a live showcase in Rockaway Festival last year.

"I remember it was already at the end of their set and the band had already walked back into the dressing room. But kids were still screaming for an encore, knowing full well that they hadn't played that song."

He adds: "Radhi was hesitant at first, but eventually came back on stage because no one had moved an inch. When his band members strummed the distinctive opening chords – everyone just lost it."

OAG's 60s TV paved the way for a new generation of singer-songwriters in the 1990s.

16.Suci Dalam Debu by Iklim

Released in 1990, rock ballad Suci Dalam Debu became an instant hit thanks to its haunting lyrics and soulful delivery by lead singer Saleem. Blues Gang frontman Ito Mohd recalls watching Iklim perform in Terengganu before the band hit it big.

"I told a friend from a record label that it will be a big mistake if no one signs this band up," Ito remembers.
Iklim gave a memorable performance of the song in the 1990 edition of Anugerah Juara Lagu where they also won third place for Best Performance and second place in Best Song. In 1992, a film inspired by the song was released thus extending its popularity and longevity in the Malaysian entertainment scene.

17.Kekasih Awal Dan Akhir by Jamal Abdillah

According to former RTM announcer Sazali Said, this 1991 song by Jamal Abdillah struck a chord with listeners because of its message.

"A lot of listeners could relate to this song's message about devotion and eternal love. Some believe it has a religious message and that it's essentially a song about God," says Sazali.

He adds that Jamal Abdillah's distinctive voice and harrowing delivery made it even more memorable for listeners.

"Back then, Jamal was in a league of his own because of his 'suara kejantanan' (manly voice). I can honestly tell you that – till today – there are no other male singers like him," says Sazali.

As per the trend back then, the song also inspired a film of the same name. In 1993, Jamal starred alongside Sofea Jane in Kekasih Awal Dan Akhir, a film about a pair of lovers whose relationship is tested by their different social status.

18.Sejati by Wings

In 1990, M. Nasir penned this tune for rock band Wings. The song propelled Wings to the top of the charts and their third studio album Teori Domino achieved quadruple platinum sales.

"I remember listeners loved its powerful melody and heartfelt delivery. To most listeners, the song is about experiencing what was true love and then having to let it go. It's like a coming-of-age song," says former RTM announcer Sazali Said.

The veteran radio announcer laughed when we asked if this song is meant for those "frust menonggeng" (emotionally wrecked) types.

"Not necessarily! I mean, everyone else can probably relate to it as well (laughs)."
With over 200,000 units of the album sold, Wings also earned critical success with Sejati. The song won third place at Anugerah Juara Lagu in 1990. Vocalist Awie and his band also walked away with the top prize for Best Performance.

"The line 'ta ra ku cha cha' is just so infectious! Somehow it makes me feel that people just want to get together and dance," says Atilia.
In 2007, Atilia played P. Ramlee's first wife Junaidah in a musical. While preparing for her role, she learned a lot about Saloma.

"(Husband and wife) P. Ramlee and Saloma was the ultimate dream team back then. He'd write songs for her to sing and she carries it so well.

"The song's upbeat tune made me forget that it's actually a sad song about loneliness," says Atilia.

20.Isabella by Search

For Search bassist Nasir, coming up with Isabella was no easy feat.

"We were in the midst of recording our fifth studio album Fenomena in Jakarta, Indonesia when we realised that we still don't have a killer song," remembers Nasir.

The band then roped in M. Nasir to help out in the creative process. "We came up with a melody for a song and our producer M. Nasir got songwriter Bob Lokman to help come up with a story for the song."
M. Nasir also suggested that the band come up with a killer guitar solo.

"The guitar solo was designed to sound like a couple having a conversation. Whenever guitarist Kid performs the solo, vocalist Amy will take on a sullen, sad expression like listening to a lover say goodbye," says Nasir.

Isabella won the best song award at the 1989 Anugerah Juara Lagu. The popularity of this single helped Search sell over a million copies of the album in Indonesia, a first for a Malaysian act.

"It was so huge for us we realised it was difficult to come up with another tune that can match the success and musical greatness that is Isabella.

Here's a list of the rest of the 36 memorable Malaysian songs:

21. Gerimis Mengundang by Search

22. Anak Ayam by Too Phat

23. Awas! by KRU

24. Menaruh Harapan by Zaiton Sameon

25. Untukmu by Feminin

26. Jejaka Idaman by Raja Ema

27. Mata by Noorkumalasari

28. Pergilah Sayang by Korie & Ella

29. Bunga-Bunga Cinta by Misha Omar

30. Madah Berhelah by Ziana Zain

31. Luka Dilukai by Shima

32. Pasti by Ning Baizura

33. Di Persimpangan Dilema by Nora

34. C.I.N.T.A. by XPDC

35. Kau Kunci Hatiku by Ramlah Ram

36. Itik Gembo-Gembo by A to Z

37. Puji-Pujian by Raihan

38. Fiona by 4U2C

39. Syair Laila Majnun by Ramli Sarip

40. Manisnya Senyumanmu by Elite

41. Tragedi Oktober by Awie

42. Ikhlas Tapi Jauh by Sheila Majid, Zainal Abidin

43. Sekadar Di Pinggiran by Francissca Peter

44. Suraya by Headwind

45. Farra by Bagaikan Putri

46. Akhirnya Kini Pasti by Anita Sarawak

47. Cinta Kristal by Rahim Maarof

48. Siapa Dia Sebelum Daku by Roy and Fran

49. Teratai Layu Di Tasik Madu by Fauziah Latif

50. Kuda Hitam by Juliza Adzlizan

51. Untukmu Ibu by Exist

52. Janji Manismu by Aishah

53. Suratan Takdir by Gersang

54. Tiada Lagi Kidungmu by Lefthanded

55. Semakin Rindu Semakin Asyik by Amelina

56. Monay Monay by Poetic Ammo

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